November 3, 2020/by Lesley Friedland and the FamilyKind Team
Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” —Oprah Winfrey
November Blog
Our blog this month is written by our very own Ellen Taner, FamilyKind’s Director of Program Development. Ellen describes skills that co-parents are thankful for.
Thankfulness
by Ellen Taner, FamilyKind’s Director of Program Development
Parent education has been a professional and personal passion of mine for over 40 years. I am truly thankful to have a career where I get to help parents fall back in love with the job of being a parent when they learn and use new skills and insights. Even parents experiencing family reconfiguration, often the most challenging time of their adult lives, express deep appreciation for the parent education and other services FamilyKind provides.
When parents use skills and commit to what is best for their children, everyone becomes calmer and more empathetic rather than argumentative. Critical for human development, empathy can be seen in children as young as 18 months old. It is a human quality needed for caring relationships, compassionate behaviors and well-being. Often co-parents even realize the benefits of applying empathy with each other. Additional skills that co-parents tell me they are thankful for include:
Active/Reflective Listening – letting a child or co-parent know what you heard before sharing your opinion about what they said
Using I-Messages – a technique that seeks cooperation
Applying problem-solving techniques vs. problem-blaming banter
Continuing to learn new co-parenting skills throughout the various stages of children’s lives so parents can help them grow and develop into the best versions of themselves.
I am thankful for the many parents who have the courage and insight to recognize the needs of their families and then come to FamilyKind eager to learn and improve their lives. I am thankful for the many professionals who share their time, expertise and talents to help families. I am thankful for the many partners, sponsors, donors and benefactors who support FamilyKind’s vision of empowering families.
This year, we will celebrate the holiday season in many different ways because of COVID-19. We will have to forego beloved traditions in favor of safer alternatives. In doing so, let’s all do our best to focus on who and what we are thankful for, accepting that different may have the potential to be a blessing. I hope all of us will enjoy Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season in ways that bring comfort, meaning and blessings to ourselves and our families.
Upcoming FamilyKind Happenings
Holiday Auction: Shop for the Holidays & Help FamilyKind
FamilyKind’s Holiday Auction opens for bidding on Monday, November 16, 2020, at 10:00 AM EST.
This year-end, online auction will feature many unique items at all price levels. These include: jewelry, spa & beauty items, home décor and more.
From the convenience of your home, you can do your holiday shopping and support the work of FamilyKind, which provides much-needed services to many families on a sliding-scale basis.
Check this link www.biddingforgood.com/familykind to preview available items. Be sure to check back often as we will be adding new items as the auction date approaches. Feel free to place a “watch” on your favorite items, so that you will know as soon as bidding begins! The auction ends on date. Shipment of items, or arrangements for pick up at a convenient Manhattan location, will begin immediately after the auction closes.
November 16th Peer-to-Peer Webinar Addresses Relocation During Covid-19
Join FamilyKind professionals Jennifer Safian and Barbara Rothberg, DSM, LCSW, as they discuss how seemingly temporary relocations during the early days of Covid-19 are having long-term complications for families. They will discuss important considerations and strategies for mediating these challenges in the best interest of families. Join us by registering here.
FamilyKind’s Peer-to-Peer webinars are designed specifically for legal, mental health, mediation and family science professionals who are helping families through difficult times. It takes place the third Monday of each month from 1 pm to 1:45 pm and is free of charge. Register for future events here.
There is no charge to attend the Peer-to-Peer webinars thanks to the generous support of our sponsors Soberlink and OurFamilyWizard.
Adult Children of Divorce: Self-help Group, Symposium & Theater Event
We are delighted to report that the ACOD Committee has had a busy and successful fall starting with an online support group which features group discussions led by professionals who are also adult children of divorce. To contact the facilitators about future programs, please click here.
The ACOD Committee also hosted an educational, moving and inspiring symposium on October 30th entitled Amplifying the Voices of Adult Children of Divorce. This was followed by a Theater Benefit featuring an evening with Bess Wohl, playwright of Grand Horizons, which was recently nominated for the 2020 Tony Award for Best Play. Actors from the original production — Ashley Park, Ben McKenzie, Matthew Scott and Michael Urie — recreated scenes from the play highlighting the ACOD experience. The evening also featured an emotive performance by jazz pianist and prodigy Aaron Parks.
Did You Miss the October Peer-to-Peer Webinar?
You can watch it here on our archive page with all our past Peer-to-Peer webinars. During October’s session – GoodTalk4Parents: Better Communication between Parents – FamilyKind professionals Shari Bornstein and Diane Hesseman discuss how our GoodTalk4Parents program helps parents remove conflict from their communication
Listen to Coping with Co-Parenting Archives
The Coping with Co-Parenting Webinar series provides parents with skills to talk with their children and co-parents regarding today’s important issues. These include: teaching children about money, coping with Covid, conversations that matter about racism, self-care for parents, and more. Watch on demand at your convenience. Click Here.
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